Jones moves up in AL All-Star voting

The Orioles are off to a great start to the 2012 season, but their stars need your help to get to them to the All-Star game. The updated American League voting totals were released on Monday and centerfielder Adam Jones has jumped up a spot –to fourth –and is trailing Toronto’s Jose Bautista’s 1,996,940 votes with 1,959,207 votes of his own.

Catcher Matt Wieters and shortstop J.J. Hardy both remained third in their respective categories with Robert Andino dropping a spot to fifth among second baseman.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites — online or via your mobile device — using the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, June 28, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Wieters was the Orioles’ representative last season, while Hardy was an All-Star with Milwaukee in 2007. Nick Markakis –who is currently on the disabled list – also moved up two spots to 13th among outfielders.

Fans can also once again participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. The 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby — part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day — will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 9.

The 2012 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 1, on the 2012 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2012 All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com.

And the voting doesn’t end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, July 10. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

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